I've worked at Costco for 18 years. From plant-based chicken nuggets to kimbap, here are 8 of the best vegetarian meals to get there.

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 11:36

A hand holding a yellow and blue container of edamame with images of edamame pods on the front — Costco carries plenty of tasty vegetarian items.
Veronica Thatcher

I'm a Costco employee who sometimes buys vegetarian items for my family of four to enjoy.
Costco's grain-and-celery salad with apple-cider vinaigrette is full of tasty vegetables.
I get the Don Lee Farms organic chipotle black-bean burger patties for a hearty lunch or dinner.

I've worked at Costco for 18 years, so I'm very familiar with the store's ready-to-eat meals and frozen dinners. And though I'm not a vegetarian myself, I sometimes like to buy some meatless meals for my family of four.

Here are eight vegetarian meals I'd recommend getting at Costco.

Prices may vary by location.

Costco's grain-and-celery salad with apple-cider vinaigrette is a great light meal or side dish.

A hand holds a grain-and-celery salad with pieces of dried cranberries, chickpeas, cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables in the container — Costco's grain-and-celery salad with apple-cider vinaigrette contains lots of bright vegetables.
Veronica Thatcher

The grain-and-celery salad with apple-cider vinaigrette can be found in Costco's deli. The ready-to-eat salad features chickpeas, quinoa, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, celery, onion, kale, and a cabbage-and-carrot blend.

It comes with an apple-cider vinaigrette, but you could also add your favorite dressing. The grain-and-celery salad costs $5 per pound, which comes out to just less than $15 for each container — which is almost 3 pounds.

Milton's roasted-vegetable cauliflower-crust pizza is an easy last-minute dinner.

A purple box of cauliflower-crust pizza with an image of pizza with peppers on it on the box — Milton's roasted-vegetable cauliflower-crust pizza comes together in a pinch.
Veronica Thatcher

Customers can satisfy their cravings for a cheesy dish with a two-pack of Milton's roasted-vegetable cauliflower-crust pizza.

This thin and crispy pizza is topped with savory roasted zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and a three-cheese blend.

At my store, Milton's cauliflower-crust pizza can be found in the frozen section for $14.

The Don Lee Farms organic chipotle black-bean burger patties are very filling.

A hand holds a black and red package of black-bean burgers with an image of a black-bean burger with a large bun, lettuce, and tomato on the front — When I want a hearty meal, I reach for the Don Lee Farms organic chipotle black-bean burger patties.
Veronica Thatcher

If you're looking for something hearty and tasty without meat, you might want to try the Don Lee Farms organic chipotle black-bean patties.

The juicy burgers contain beans, tomatoes, corn, and onions with smoky chipotle pepper.

They make an easy lunch or dinner option and take just five minutes to heat up in the air fryer. At my location, each package of Don Lee Farms black-bean patties is $14.

The Hanwoomul fried-tofu-and-vegetable kimbap is very popular at my store.

A hand holds a black-and-gold pouch of kimbap with an image of tofu-and-vegetable rolls on the packaging — I'm a big fan of the Hanwoomul fried-tofu-and-vegetable kimbap at Costco.
Veronica Thatcher

Kimbap, a bite-sized Korean food made with rice, vegetables, and seaweed, makes a light yet filling meal.

Though other stores in my area carry kimbap, I think Costco's large bag gives you more for your money. A bag weighing just over 3 pounds with six packs of kimbap is $19 at my Costco.

If you're new to tofu, I recommend getting the House Foods brand.

Red boxes with yellow and white lettering spelling out — The House Foods organic firm tofu can be added to so many vegetable-based meals.
Veronica Thatcher

I think the House Foods organic firm tofu is great for people who are new to vegetarian meals because it's easy to incorporate into rice dishes or stir-fries.

This tofu is kosher, has no preservatives, and contains protein from soybeans. Each box includes four 16-ounce packages.

At my store, boxes of the House Foods organic tofu are located in the deli coolers and cost $7 each.

The Ajinomoto yakisoba with vegetables is a flavorful, comforting dish.

A hand holds a box of yakisoba noodles with a picture of noodles and vegetables, including peppers, peas, asparagus, and broccoli — The Ajinomoto yakisoba with vegetables contains a savory sauce.
Veronica Thatcher

If you're craving noodles, look no further than the Ajinomoto vegetable yakisoba. These vegetarian Japanese-style stir-fried noodles come with crisp vegetables and a savory sauce.

The best part about this meal is that it only takes three minutes to heat in the microwave. Each box contains six 9-ounce bags of noodles, so it's easy to store in the fridge.

The heat-and-eat Ajinomoto yakisoba costs $14.50 at my Costco.

The Okami organic edamame pairs well with so many meals.

The Okami organic edamame makes a great side dish or snack. It's rich in protein and low in saturated fat.

This package contains whole, lightly salted edamame pods that are fully cooked and ready to eat.

At my Costco, a 2-pound package of the Okami edamame can be found in the deli coolers for $5.40.

The Impossible chicken nuggets are a great source of plant-based protein.

A hand holds a large red pouch of impossible chicken nuggets with images of the food on the packaging — Each serving of the Impossible plant-based chicken nuggets contains 13 grams of protein.
Veronica Thatcher

I highly recommend picking up a bag of the Impossible plant-based chicken nuggets.

Each serving provides 13 grams of plant-based protein. This is a simple meal that can be popped into the air fryer or microwaved for a few minutes.

A 40-ounce bag of the Impossible chicken nuggets is $12 at my store.

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I've worked at Costco for 18 years. From plant-based chicken nuggets to kimbap,…